Can double seaming machine



Feb 15, 19 %3. H GUENTHQER 2,313,538

CAN DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1943.

. H. L. GUENTHER CAN DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 233 Q QQWW I v Feb. 16, 1943. H. L. GUENTHER 2.311.533

CAN DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet s V ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1943. H. L. GUENTHQER 231L538 7 CAN DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 WMQZM Feb. 16, 1943. H. L. GUENTHER 3 5 CAN DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 HMML firm ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to can machinery, and particularly pertains to a can double seaming machine.

In the operation of machines for applying a cap to the body of a can of the type known as a sanitary can and to which the cap is attached by a double seaming operation it is desirable to perform the operation rapidly and in a workmanlike manner. When the cans are filled with liquid or semi-liquid materials before the caps are applied and particularly when these cans are of relative large size, such for example as when having a gallon capacity, there is a tendency for the material to be disturbed within the cans and to be spilled therefrom as the cans move through the machine. It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a can double seaming machine which will conduct a filled can through the machine at a relative rapid rate of speed, and with a minimum amount of disturbance which would cause the contents of the can to be spilled. The structure embodies means for delivering caps to the can body as the can advances to the double seaming station, and further embodies novel means whereby the can and cap are moved to an assembled relationship to the doublev seaming station and are thereafter joined together by a double seaming operation.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a can double seaming machine having 7 a double seaming station to which cans are delivered by an intermittent feed device which moves the cans along a linear path of travel to and from the double seaming structure. The machine being further fitted with means to provide a can cap for a can as it reaches the double seaming station and without interruption of the can in its movement thereto, after which the can is rounded and the cap assembled therewith.

The invention is illustrated by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the machine with which the present invention is concerned;

Figure 2 is a view in plan showing the machine as previously disclosed in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section show ing the machine as viewed on the line 3-3 of Figure l, and indicating particularly the path of travel of the cans through the machine and r showing a can disposed between two star wheels at the double seaming station;

Figure 4 is an enlarged View in central vertical section through the machine as seen on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and viewed in the direction of .the super-structure of the machine.

the arrows and showing a can receiving spider at the double seaming station;

Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section through the machine as seen on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. and discloses part of the driving mechanism;

Figure 6 is a view in horizontal section through the machine as seen on the line 66 of Figure 4, and discloses the intermittent driving mechanism of the machine;

Figure '7 is an enlarged View in section and elevation showing the lateral adjustment for the star wheel spindle;

Figure 8 is a View in transverse section as seen on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Referring particularly to the drawings, It indicates a base of 'the machine with which the present invention is concerned. This base as disclosed in Figure 4 is hollow and provides an enclosure for mechanical driving elements to be hereinafter described. The top of this base is indicated at H and forms a direct support for Upright elements 12 are connected to the base and provide guideways for an upper frame structure l3. Bolting plates [4 are connected to these guideways by cap screws [5 which hold the plates in position and confine guide plates It for vertical movement. The guide plates [6 are a part of the upper frame l3. The upright elements l2 are formed as a part of a standard I! which is secured to the top face H of the base [0 by cap screws It. The standard is hollow and is formed with a vertical boss [9, in its upper end. A nut 20 fits into this boss and is held by cap screws 2 I. The interior of this nut is threaded to receive a vertically extending screw shaft 22 which extends upwardly and has an upper end portion 23 of reduced diameter. The portion of reduced diameter fits within a boss 24 formed in a horizontal element 25 of the upper frame structure 13. A nut 2'6 is threaded on to the upper end of the portion 23 and rigidly holds the shaft screw 22 in assembled relation with the upper frame structure. Pinned on to the shaft 22 at a point directly beneath the boss 24 is a hand wheel 2'! which when rotated will rotate the shaft 22 and produce vertical adjustment of the upper frame structure l3 with relation to the base [0. Due to this arrangement it is possible to quickly adjust the machine for operation upon cans of diiferent height. Extending vertically through the boss 28, shown as formed intergal with the base, is a composite main drive shaft 29. This shaft is here shown as being in three sections. A lower section 30, an intermediate tubular section 3! and an upper section 32. The tubular section 3| telescopes over the shaft 29 and is fastened with relation thereto by key 33 and pin 33'. The upper end of the tubular section is formed with a longitudinally extending keyway 34 to receive a spline 35. The spline is carried upon the upper shaft section 32 so that the members 3| and 32 will have longitudinal telescopic movement with rela tion to each other Without interrupting the driving action of the entire shaft. This relative movement accommodates the adjustment of the base to the upper frame structure as effected by rotation of the screw shaft 22. A bearing 38 is formed vertically through the horizontal portion 25 of the upper frame structure I3 and rotatably supports the upper end of the shaft section 32. Mounted upon the upper end of this shaft is a drum cam 31 provided for a purpose to be here-- inafter described and a bevel gear 38'. The horizontal portion 25 of the upper frame carries opposite horizontally aligned bearings 39. These are spaced from each other and receive. a. jack shaft 40. The, jack shaft. 40 is driven through a pulley 42 and a clutch element 43. Parallel to shaft 40 is a shaft 4|. This. shaft carries a bevel pinion 44' which is in mesh with the bevel gear 38. and by which the main drive shaft 29 is driven. Mounted upon this shaft is a gear 45, in mesh with pinion 46 on shaft 40. A suitable cover 41' is mounted over the jack shaft 4| and cooperates with the. frame structure I3 to provide an enclosed housing for the upper gear mechanism.

A bevel gear 48 is in mesh with a bevel pinion 48' which is carried upon a. vertical shaft 49. The, shaft. 49 extends through a bearing 50 adjacent to its upper end, and which bearing is a part; of the, horizontal frame portion 25. The lower end of this: shaft, extends. through abottom cover 5.I which is secured in position by screws 52. This bottom cover carries. a bearing 53. It; will thus be seen that a completely closed compartment 54 is formed around the. shaft when the cover plate is in position. Mounted upon the shaft 49 is a gear structure comprising an upper gear 55 and a lower gear 56. These gears are in mesh with pinions 51' and 58. The pinions rotate around a common axis established by a chuck spindle 59 which is supported in an upper bearing 50' formed as a part of the horizontal frame portion 25, and a lower bearing 6|? detachably secured to. the cover plate 5|. This lower bearing carries anti-friction bearings 62'. The lower end of the chuck. spindle 59 is provided with a chuck 6J3 whichfits Within the recess cavity in the, top of can caps 64 as they are held in seaming relation with can bodies 65. Mounted upon. the chuck spindle 59 and freely rotatable with relation thereto is an inner sleeve 56 and outer sleeve 61.. The inner sleeve carries the gear pinion 51:. The outer sleeve carries the gear pinion 58. Mounted at the lower end of the sleeve 65 is a spider 88 which circumscribes the sleeve and carries lugs 69. These lugs are provided with pivot pins I0 and upon them operating levers II are mounted. There are preferable four of these levers arranged in pairs upon diametrically opposite sides of the axis of the spindle 59. These levers carry double seaming rollers I2.

One pair of diametrically disposed rollers is provided, to perform the first. double seaming operation, and the other pair is provided to perform a second seaming operation as described in my issued Patent No. 2,052,620 entitled Double seaming. machine and issued to me on the 1st day of September, 1936. The upper ends of the levers II carry rollers I3. One set of rollers engages a circular cam 14 and the other set of rollers engages a circular cam 15. The circular cams are integral and are fixed upon the sleeve 61 by which they are rotated independent of the rotation of the spider 58. Mounted in the base and vertically reciprocating with relation thereto is a lower chuck spindle I9. This spindle is slidably mounted in vertically aligned bearings 11 and I8. At its upper end it carries a nonrotatable chuck 79 which has a central split cavity 80 extending across and through it to accommodate a can conveyor chain 3!. Suitable chuck plates 80' are mounted upon the chuck I9 at opposite sides of the space 80 and are shaped to fit within the recessed bottom cap carried by the can body 65. The chuck I9 and its hub are housed within a cylindrical housing element 82 which is fixed upon the top I I of the base I0. This housing element is substantially spool shaped having an upper flange. 831 and a lower flange. 84. A hearing opening is formed through these flanges to receive shaft 95. The shaft 95 carries a. star wheel 81.

The shaft 95 is fitted at its lower end within a hearing bracket 88 which is spaced from a bearing 89. Disposed between the. bearings 89 and 99 is a driving gear 90 which isv splined on to the shaft and will maintain. driving relation between the gear and the shaft while permitting longitudinal adjustment of the. shaft 85'. This adjustment is provided by a sleeve 9'I which carries a set screw 92 engaging the shaft 95. The gear 95 is driven through suitablev means which will be hereinafter described. Mounted upon the spindle "I9 is a bearing plate 94 which is pinned to the spindle IS. Sl'idably mounted upon the lower end of the spindle is a pressure, plate 95. This: plate is spaced from, the plate 94 by a plurality of rubber blocks 99 which are mounted upon bolts 91 and provide a cushion between the members 94 and 95. The. pressure plate 95is fitted with opposite side trunnions 98 which are engaged by the arm 99 of a rocking lever I00. The rocking lever I00 is pivotally mounted upon a horizontally disposed shaft IOI carried by a downwardly extending bracket I02. An arm I03 of the lever I extends oppositely from the pivotal axis and is fitted with a roller I04 which enages a cam groove I05 of a cylinder cam I06. The cam I03 is mounted on the lower shaft section 30 of the main drive shaft and thus as the shaft 30 rotates it will oscillate the lever I00 and act through the lever arm 99 to reciprocate the lower chuck spindle I5.

Disposed parallel to the shaft 85 which carries star wheel 81 and upon the opposite side of the axis 59 is a shaft I07. This shaft is formed with a disc-shaped head I08 which fits within a recess of a plate I09 carried on the lower end of a bush-- ing I 5 and directly secured to an enlarged bushing end plate H0. The bushing end plate H0 and the plate I99 are formed with a slotted opening II3 through which a screw |I4 may pass to engage a threaded opening in the hub member 53. Within the bushing III] is the lower end of the shaft 49. The bushing may, therefore, rotate around the axis of the shaft 49, and since the axis of shaft I91 is eccentric to the axis of shaft 49 lateral adjustment of the shaft I 01 may be brought about, after which the bushing can be clamped into place by the set screw II 4. This will hold the shaft III! in a desired position of adjustment with relation to the shaft 85 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The lower end of the shaft I01 is pinned to a casting II1. This casting is formed with a collar H8 adjacent its upper end and has a downwardly extending tubular extension II9 which is concentric with the central axis of the shaft I01. The lower portion of the tubular extension H9 is split and is formed with bolting flanges I to receive bolts I2I. By this means the tubular extension may be clamped on to a shaft I22 which extends downwardly through a lower bearing plate I23 carried by the base portion I0. Thus the entire structure including the member I I1 may be raised and lowered to be adjusted with relation to the seaming head and also may be adjusted laterally with relation to the longitudinal axis of the spindle 16 so that the machine may be easily adjusted to accommodate cans of different diameters and heights. In Fig. 4 the collar H8 is shown as carrying a spider structure I23. This structure is formed with diametrically opposed can pockets I24 which partially encircle a can and cooperate with the star wheel 81 to hold the can in a circular shape as it is lifted upwardly and centered in the mouth piece I25. It is to be understood that the members I23 may be interchanged so that the pocket portions will be of an appropriate diameter to receive the particular can to be worked upon. The spinder structure I23 is intermittently driven. This intermittent drive is created by a radial cam disc I26 which is formed with a plurality of radial camways I21. As shown in Figure 6 of the drawings there are five of these camways or grooves which may successively move into engagement with cam rollers I28 carried upon the oppositely extending arms of a cam lever I29. The cam lever I29 is mounted on a shaft I30 which is suitably housed in the base I0 of the structure. This shaft carries a gear I3I in mesh with a gear I32 which is mounted upon the lower portion 30 of the main drive shaft. In this way the cam shaft I30 is constantly driven and the shaft I22 is driven thereby through the intermittent riving mechanism comprising the lever I29, its rollers I28, and cam disc I26. Mounted upon the shaft I22 is a gear I33 which is in mesh with a gear I34 which in turn meshes with an idler gear I35. The idler gear I35 is in mesh with the gear 90 mounted upon the shaft 85. Through this gear train the shaft 85 will be intermittently driven in unison with the shaft I22. Attention is directed to the fact that Fig. 4 of the drawings shows a can spider I23 mounted upon the shaft I22, and in Fig. 3 of the drawings a star wheel I36 is shown mounted on the shaft I22 as a substitute for the spider I 23'. It will be evident, however, that since these structures are fundamentally the same they will cooperate with the star wheel 81 in placing and holding the cans in shape as they are fed to the double seaming station, and that they will hold the cans in proper position for vertical movement into the seaming head and while the seaming operation takes place.

Mounted on the lower end of the portion 30 of the main drive shaft is a beveled gear I31 which is in mesh with a complementary gear I38. The gear I38 is carried on a jack shaft I39 mounted in bearings I40. These bearings are secured to a frame element I4I carried by the base I0. Mounted on the opposite end of the shaft I39 from that upon which the beveled pinion I38 is fastened is a sprocket wheel I42. This sprocket wheel receives an endless sprocket chain 8| which passes around idler sprockets I44 and I45 at opposite sides of the base I0 as more particularly disclosed in Figure 1 of the drawings. The sprocket chain is led through the side walls of the base I0, one end of it passing around a sprocket wheel I46 mounted upon a shaft I41 above the base. The sprocket chain is then led over a sprocket wheel I48 mounted upon a shaft I49 in a bed plate I50 of the base structure. The return end of the sprocket chain is then led around a sprocket wheel I5I and to the idler sprocket I44. The sprocket wheel I5I is mounted upon a shaft I52 and is held adjustably in a bracket I53 by which a suitable tension may be created on the chain. The transverse shaft I49 carries a sprocket I54. This sprocket receives a chain I55 which is led around a sprocket wheel I56. This wheel is carried upon the shaft I51 of the packer and is mounted on a frame extension I58. The packer comprises arms I59 extending radially from the shaft and carrying packing discs I60 at their outer ends. These discs are pivoted on the ends of the arms upon pivot pins I6I and are rigidly connected to links I62 having rollers I63 at their free ends. The rollers move along a cam track I64 as the shaft is driven and cause the packing discs I60 to feed it and follow within the mouth of cans 65 as the cans pass into the machine. This action causes the food contained within the can to be tamped down and compressed as the cans move toward the double seaming station. The shaft I41 carries a sprocket wheel I46. Flights I12 are mounted on the chain 8I and engage the cans as they are fed from the can timing and feeding mechanism.

The feeding and timing mechanism comprises an initial timing star wheel I13 and a feeding and accelerating star wheel I14. The timing star wheel I13 is formed with a plurality of pockets to receive the cans 65 as they are delivered from a can runway I15. Associated with the star wheel I13 is a disc I 16 which rotates with the star wheel and on to which the cans are delivered. Along the path of the traveling cans as propelled by the star wheel I13 and its disc I16 is a guide member I11 which confines the can to an arcuate path of travel. The star wheel and the disc are mounted upon a shaft I18 driven in a manner to be hereinafter described. In a plane horizontally common to that of the upper surface of the disc I16 is a face I19 on the bed plate I50. Rotating above this face is the feeding and accelerating star wheel I 14. This is mounted on a shaft I and is fitted with arms I8I which move into the path of travel of the cans as they rest on the disc I16 and advance the cans along an arcuate guide rail I82 to a position where they will be engaged by the flights I12 on the chain 8|.

The can timing and feeding mechanism is driven from the shaft I49 which carries the feed sprocket I48 for the feed chain 8I. This shaft carries a beveled pinion I83 which is in mesh with a beveled gear I84 mounted upon the shaft I80 upon which is also mounted the star wheel I14. Mounted upon the lower extending end of the shaft I80 is a gear wheel I85. This gear wheel is held for longitudinal adjustment upon the shaft I80 by a set screw I86 carried by its hub. Keyed on to the hub of the gear I is a second gear I81 of different diameter from the first gear so that suitable driving speed variation may be obtained. A stub shaft I88 is carried in a bearing I89 of the bed plate I50 and carries a gear structure including a gear I90 and a gear I 9| which are spaced from each other so that the gears I85 and I90 mesh or the gears I81 and I9! may mesh. Keyed on to this gear structure is a gear I82. This gear is in mesh with a gear I93 carried upon a stub shaft I94 in a bearing I65 of the bed plate. The shaft I94 also carries a gear I96. The gears I93 and I96 are in mesh with gears I91 and I98 respectively which are carried upon the shaft I18 upon which the timing star wheel I13 is mounted.

The can cap feed mechanism generally indicated at IE9 is of the type shown in Patent No. 1,935,4ss, entitled Can feed for double seaming machine, issued November 14, i932. This structure is actuated by a lever 2:33 pivoted upon a bracket 2M and oscillated by an arm 265. The arm 295 is connected to a crank 206 which is carried upon the shaft I36 and rotates therewith. The cans as advanced by the feed plate 20I are carried on to guide rails 261 and 228. The path of travel of the feed plate 28I beneath the can stack 200 is parallel to the path of travel of the feed chain BI and the cans carried thereby. The cap guide rails 201 and 268 have straight parallel portions receiving the can caps in their initial linear movement and concentric arcuate portions along which the can caps may travel to a position at right angles to that of the path of travel of the cans. While traveling in this position the star wheel I36 registers with the cap and moves the cap in an arcuate path of travel opposite to the arcuate path of travel prior to being engaged by the star Wheel and feeds the cap over the can as particularly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, so that the cap and the can will be in concentric registration when they reach the seaming station exactly in the vertical plane oc cupied by the longitudinal axes of shafts 85 and I61.

A suitable can cap marking mechanism is generally indicated at 269 in the drawing. This marking is connected through a driving link structure with a lever m mounted in the upper frame portion 25 of the machine and having a roller 2H which rides in the cam groove 31 of the cam drum 38.

The clutch structure 63 for controlling the driving of the machine is provided with a clutch collar 2I2 which receives slides 2I3 of a shifting yoke 254. This yoke is pivoted at 2 I5 to a bracket 2I6. A lever arm 2I1' formed integral with the yoke 214 is fitted with an operating rod 2 i 8. This rod is connected with a lever 2 I9 which is pivoted at 226 on the bracket 2I6. A control lever 22I shifts the lever 2I9 and thus operates the clutch. Attention is directed to the fact that a shoulder 222 is formed around the movable clutch member 53. This shoulder may be engaged by a lock element 223 to hold the clutch out of its driving position and to prevent it from being accidentally thrown into engagement with its complementary portion in the pulley 42.

In order that the cans of different size may be used in the machine the arcuate can guide rail N32 is fitted with slotted openings 224 to receive cap screws 225 by which the rail may be set for horizontal adjustment with relation to the bed plate I50. Complementary to the guide rail I32 is a guide rail 226 which is spaced from the guide rail I62 and is held by cap screws 221 which pass through slotted openings 223 in the guide rail 226. The cap screws in turn engage the face of the bed plate I56.

In operation of the present invention the cans 65 are fed into the chute I15 after having been filled with material to be sealed. The pockets of the timing star wheel I13 receive the cans and feed the cans around and along the arcuate rail I11. They are then engaged by the arms I8 I of the star wheel I 14 and are fed toward and along the arcuate portion of the guide rail I82. Attention is directed to the fact that the star wheel I13 and the star wheel I14 are spaced with relation to each other so as to cause the cans to move outwardly along the radial arms I8I and to thus be accelerated in lineal speed of travel so that when they move on to the feed chain Ill and are engaged by the flights I12 they will be traveling at the lineal speed of travel of the chain. This insures that the cans will not be violently moved at any point in their travel, thus the contents of the can will not be spilled in transit from the runway I15 to the seaming station. As the filled can is moved with the chain I43 it is guided by the guide rails I82 and 226. The can then passes the packer unit where a packing disc I60 will move into the mouth of the can as the can travels and will insure that the contents of the can will be firmly pressed down into the can prior to receiving a cap. The caps 64 are fed from the cap stack 260 by the cap feed mechanism I99 and are moved along the cap guideways 2431 and 268 until they are traveling in a path of travel of the cans as moved by the chain BI. The caps will then be engaged by the arms of the star Wheel I36 and will be rotated on an arcuate path of travel which is tangent to the path of travel of the central axis of the can as being moved along the chain 5|. Thus the can and cap will be in direct superimposed central alignment when they reach the can double seaming station and are in coincident alignment with the chuck spindles 59 and 16. As the cans move with the chain SI they reach a position upon the lower chuck 19. This chuck is split to accommodate the chain and when the chuck is raised the can will be lifted upwardly and out of the path of travel of the flight I12 which has propelled it, and is then moved to a position where the can will lift the cap which is being supported by the guide rails and will carry the can and the cap upwardly into operative engagement with the upper chuck plate 63 so that when the seaming head acts to operate and move the seaming rollers 12 around the lip of the can and the cap a double seaming operation will take place. It will be evident that the lower chuck intermittently reciprocates and that the driving operation of the seaming head is synchronized with that of the reciprocating lower chuck spindle 16. After the seaming operation has been completed and the lower chuck has moved to its lowermost position the star wheel I36 will move the double seamed can and cap away from the seaming station so that another can and cap may be moved 'to the seaming station for a subsequent operation. It will be understood that the structure is intermittent in its action and that cans and caps Will be rapidly fed to the machine, placed in assembled relation to each other and double-seamed, and that furthermore due to the manner in which the cans and caps are moved through the machine without excessive jar or vibration cans of large size and capacity may be filled and seamed at high speed Within the machine.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me, it Will be understood that various changes might be made in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a can double seaming machine, a base structure, a. lower can chuck associated therewith, means delivering cans to said chuck, a super structure disposed above the base structure, an upper chuck and seaming head carried by the super structure to act upon a can resting upon the lower chuck, a cap feed carried by the super structure, a star wheel carried by the super structure and delivering caps to the cans, driving means carried by the super structure for driving 10 thenseaming head, driving means in the base structure for operating the lower chuck and the star wheel, an extensible driving member between the super structure and the base. an extensible driving member between the base and the star wheel. and means for vertically adjusting the position of the super structure with relation to the base.

HENRY L. GUENTHER. 

